There was a time when we were told that the future of deliveries would be made by robots, both flying or rolling. That dream proved to be a little too impractical and not secure to be considered a sustainable model, especially after a few mishaps that befell these unsuspecting machines. That’s not to say that they can’t become a more common sight in the distant future, leaving plenty of opportunities to refine the design of these robots.
Having small robots carrying packages on the street might sound cute until you think about how a fleet of such autonomous machines might seem like a waste of space on roads if that’s the only thing they can do. This concept design tries to add a new angle to this idea, offering a multi-functional robot that can follow you around, deliver your packages, and even transport you to your destination.
Designers: Chaewon Lee, Jungmin Park
The idea of a delivery robot is both interesting and worrying, providing a little more efficiency but also raising the stakes both for the security of the package as well as the human couriers they will replace. A robotic storage device that follows you around or hands off items to colleagues on the same floor, however, might be a little less daunting, offering convenience without that big of a risk. Even better if this robot can actually do chores for you, including making purchases on your behalf.
movr is a concept for such a robot, but it goes beyond simply carrying stuff. At first glance, it actually looks odd for a delivery robot and looks more like a three-wheeled mobile trash can. Its side slides open to reveal a small compartment for a phone, drink holders, envelopes, and any other thing you need to be transported. Almost like a ride-hailing service, movr has an app that can let you send packages or pick some up, depending on the task you need to accomplish.
Its real magic, however, is in what the robot can do when it’s not transporting objects. movr can also move people around, or at most one person, by transforming into a personal mobility device. Its front extends from its body and the scooter’s handles slide up from the front. The robot’s body then becomes the seat for the lone passenger, carrying the user as well as some of their things from one place to another.
movr is an interesting concept, though it isn’t something that can be easily implemented. Stability, battery life, speed, and intelligence will all be critical factors to consider, and they’re not something that can be easily crammed into a compact design like this. Transforming robots and vehicles, however, has long been a dream of many engineers and designers, so there might come a time in the distant future when movr transforms from idea to reality.
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